Honeycomb Solidifies Android As The Future At Google, Not Chrome OS

I am going based on what I've heard and seen and since I don't own an Android-based tablet, specifically Honeycomb, I can only go with what's out there.  And so far, I've not seen much about it on this matter.  Nevertheless, all the focus at Google must be on Honeycomb and tablets, which is where the media and blogs have pegged as the current front in the mobile war.

And with the iPad 2 just released and Xoom as the sole Tegra 2 based Honeycomb tablets, RIM's Playbook out in April, and a few more Android tablets and the Touchpad from HP out after that, I get the feeling that Chrome OS will get a proper introduction and dominate the headlines for like a week before all eyes are back on Honeycomb.

Then let's not forget that development on Android for smartphones are likely happening at a furious pace.  Just as the tablet market is getting very crowded, iPhone 5, the next Web OS device, RIM's typical updates will mean that Google and its partners have to some of their resources in this part of the mobile market as well.

I reckon that Google might leverage its position as the sole guardian of Android and convince a few of its smartphone and tablet partners to come out with a Chome OS netbook or two.

I'm not sure where that will go but I am not optimistic at all.  It's clear that the iPad, Galaxy Tab, and other tablets have greatly impacted netbook and low-end laptop sales in 2010.  And I think the growing tablet market in 2011 will further crowd out the netbooks.

It'll only be a matter of a couple more tablet revisions from Motorola, LG, and Samsung to evolve the tablet into a more robust device for mobile computing.  With each passing quarter, Honeycomb will improve along with the hardware.

I think I'm gonna call it now and say that Chrome OS is dead, killed off, not by Apple or Microsoft, but Google's focus on Honeycomb.  And I'm not sad to see it go.

T-Mobile Has Been Quiet With High End Android

T-Mobile just revived the Sidekick brand with Android as the basis. But since G2, there have not been any high end Android device that enticed me to sign up. I am eagerly waiting for the LG Optimus 2X. Due to my lack of familiarity with LG's track record in mobile and providing timely Android update, I am still waiting to see if HTC has something coming to T-Mobile.

Why T-Mobile? Well, it was the first US wireless network to introduce the first ever Android device, the G1. I was one of the first to rush to the website to order it. So you'll have to forgive me if I'm partial to T-Mobile.

This is what I hope to see from our favorite wireless provider here at On Android. I like to see the following three Android devices:

• Samsung Galaxy S II - this is the next upgrade from the Galaxy update.  It is a natural fit.  As one of the two networks without Apple's iPhone, I see Samsung and T-Mobile as a perfect fit to highlight non-Apple phones and devices, particularly Android.  And having it run on T-Mobile's HSPA+ network would be a plus.
• Because of Verizon's size and Google's eagerness to act as a check-and-balance to the Apple-ATT alliance, most people think Verizon And Droid when they think about Android.  Well, now that Verizon has the iPhone, I like to see Motorola bring the devices that are branded "Droid" to T-Mobile.  Yeah, give me a dual-core Droid-like device, and I'll sign up right this second.  Don't give me that Cliq or the Charm is the best Motorola can bring to the game here.  The Defy is okay but it's so 2009.  Give me Droid X2 or Droid 3 GSM version any day.  
• HTC - we need you.  The G2, while is a HTC-made phone, it is not branded so.  Regardless, HTC has been kind of MIA in my opinion.  Heck, give me the ChaCha which looks like the original Android prototypes.  Oh, but just don't call it the ChaCha on T-Mobile.  There's talk and rumblings about a high end device coming.  I hope so.  The G2 just isn't it.  

My hope is that T-Mobile will have a very active second quarter in Android.  After the Optimus 2X, maybe that'll be when we'll see a couple more high end devices for loyal T-Mobile fans. And yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing Sony's Play in here somewhere too.

Xoom Superbowl Commercial - Good Enough To Turn Heads And Stop the iPad?

For those of us watching the on-going Superbowl game between the Pittsburg Steelers and the Green Bay Packers, we got to watch the Xoom commercial in full.

The statement being made is that 2011 is not 1984, an unmistakable reference to the iconic 1984 Superbowl commercial from Apple introducing the Macintosh. We received sneak peaks throughout the week and we finally saw it in full.

Here it is again or if you're seeing this the first time, I wonder if you think it was effective.



I like it and maybe I'm biased. I think the Xoom is a worth tablet to highlight the coming out party for Android 3, Honeycomb.

However, outside of mobile fans, I don't know if it will be remembered in any way by regular viewers. We saw no demonstration of features like Apple did with the iPad. We saw nothing in way of production that was iconic and it definitely did not rank near the top as best Superbowl commercials.

I thought the website address was hard to read and was not on the screen very long.

At the end of the day, was it effective enough to turn heads and get people to consider the Xoom over the iPad?

No. For the Xoom's sake, Motorola should do the right thing and copy Apple's approach to the iOS devices. Show buyers its strengths and why we should get the Xoom.

Maybe if not Motorola, Google should spend some of its changes and promote Honeycomb on the airwaves.

Atrix: Tweets and If Netbook Dock Will Change Mobile Computing (Android)

This is a post of my tweets regarding the upcoming Atrix with a laptop dock that will be available on AT&T:

#Atrix: The success of Atrix (or not) will determine whether #Android kills off #Chrome OS faster. #AT&T #Google #motorola (Part 1)

#Atrix: If successful, it might establish #Android as the default OS for future netbooks #AT&T #Android #motorola (Part 2)

#Atrix: It can move Nvidia out of just graphics and into mainstream CPU – Intel/AMD could lose out #AT&T #Android #motorola (Part 3)

#Atrix: This will accelerate #microsoft’s Windows for #arm chip even more if it happens. #AT&T #Android #motorola (Part 4)

#Atrix: Without need for storage, CPU, or others parts in a regular netbook, battery life sould be better. #AT&T #Android #motorola (Part 5)

#Atrix: A new mobile way of working – take your smartphone with you and plug it into any terminal #AT&T #Android #motorola (part 6)

#Atrix: Too bad it’s on #AT&T because it no longer offers unlimited 3G access #AT&T #Android #motorola (part 7)

#Atrix: $500 is a lot. #XOOM may offer better value as a tablet. No need for dock to have larger screen #AT&T #Google #motorola (part 8)

#Atrix: with Atrix & #Xoom, Motorola has a foundation for changing mobile life & computing #AT&T #Google #motorola (part 9)

#Atrix: will be available for pre-order with AT&T on Feb 13 - $199, $499 with netbook dock #AT&T #Google #motorola (part 10)

#Atrix: Impact on mobile computing depends on battery, enterprise, and #iPhone competition #AT&T #Google #motorola (part 11)

#Atrix: #AT&T just push netbook dock combo or else, it’ll just be another #Android phone #motorola (part 12)


Bottom-line: The Atrix is an incredible product on paper and promises to deliver based on the videos I’ve seen.

Motorla has a truly added a new dynamic to the mobile market. I look for a lot of copycats in 2012 if Atrix sales explodes. But like I said in the tweets, there could be things holding it back.

Pricing is one. AT&T is making users sign up for a bunch of services that they don’t need if they want to have the Atrix-dock combo.

Second, data plans. I’m not talking about the cost but the limited data access AT&T has. Seriously, as a mobile user, I want unlimited use. I don’t want to be restricted to 2GB or the limitation put on the tethering plan.

Rather than just AT&T, Motorola should have made the dock available to other networks that provide unlimited 3G access.

As it is now, it’s a very enticing product. We’ll just have to see if this is the magic bullet AT&T is looking for to replace its lost of iPhone exclusivity and if this will usher in an new era of mobile computing.

Sony Brings Gaming To Android - Competition To Marketplace

Sony is all in with mobile gaming. Not only will it release it own mobile gaming device based on Android OS, Xperia Play "Playstation Phone", it is offering a coding environment for developers to create games for this Sony app. And it will require devices running the latest Android OS, 2.3.

How will this change things?

We're not exactly sure at this moment but this is very exciting news. Sony also introduced their next generation PSP, NGP "next-generation portable", that promises PS3 like graphics and gaming, we have to assume that this Android app will be a very different thing all together.

Still, having access to a library of PSP games is great news for Android gamers. These are games from top tier developers that have yet to commit to Android, or for that matter, Apple's iOS devices.

Sony only would commit to 2011 but would not say when that would be. This is likely a good move for Sony but for Android gaming, we might see a shift away from Marketplace if developers believe they can deliver quality gamings through Sony's setup than through Google.

Here are some key points from Sony's press release:

• Gaming and gamers have diversified. This explains why Sony is deliver a Playstation gaming environment on Android while developing PSP2 in tangent.
• Will offer a “PlayStation®Certified” license program for hardware manufacturers.
• Classic Playstation games will be offered - Woohoo!
• There will be a Playstation Store
• Will have SDK for developers to create games and sell through the PS Store
• Will require Android 2.3 and beyond.

On a level of a mobile warrior, this news from Sony is great. We're talking about increased competition for our wallets. It'll be interesting to see Sony's device competitors like Motorola, Samsung, LG, and HTC open up and install Sony's Playstation app.

Furthermore, this really has Nintendo, and maybe Apple, scramble back to the drawing board to come up with an answer. So stay tuned. I get the feeling well get more answers at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June.

More at Android Community.

Motorola May Have A Future After All

Meet XOOM, Motorola's 10" tablet running Google-sanctioned Android, Honeycomb, on Nvidia's Tegra 2. And boy, this is the tablet that Samsung should have delivered for the Tab but jumped the gun on.

Here are some of the promo videos that I have managed to track down from the Web.

Aside from the pictures, videos, and specs, we don't know a lot about the user experience that it'll deliver. And I think Google will need to share more of those details. But I have to say Google has once again outdone itself.

The graphics I see are amazing and using a dual-core CPU doesn't disappoint. And let's just say this. The battery life is amazing, 10 hours of video playback. As far as I know, this even ties the iPad in battery life, albeit, last year's iPad.

Here are some questions that I like answered however.

1. How is the ZOOM different from other Tegra 2 and Honeycomb tablets?  They all appear to have to same specs.
2. Will this be stock Android or will Verizon Wireless, the exclusive carrier for the XOOM, think it can do better by "coloring" it with a skin and apps that we don't need or want?  This was a reference tablet of sort (though not called the Nexus tablet) when Google demo'd Android 3 back in December.
3. How is the app market?  Will we see an iPad-like translation in apps between the iPhone version and the iPad version?
4. The XOOM will initially come in a 3G version but will be upgradable to LTE.  Will this cost more?

Anyway, this is the Android tablet to get.  Well, we'll need to know what the prices are but from what I can, it's a good start for now.

Engadget has a nice little table with the specs for the ZOOM.  I encourage you to head over and check it out.  It looks like there will be only one version initially.  Listed is only a 32GB version.  I have a 32GB iPad model.  I would have like to see a 64GB version.  Trust me.  Apps for tablets take up a heck of lot more space than phone apps.

I think this not only sends a message to Apple, but also for RIM, Samsung, and everyone else competing in this market.  I also love to see what HTC has in store.  God, I love competition!

More at Engadget.

Android Device Makers That Also Make TV May Have Advantage Over Others That Just Make Tablets And Phones

Android device makers, Toshiba, Sharp, Samsung, and Sony, all have one thing in common that Android makers do not have. They made TV. Specifically, HDTV. And that potentially mean their Android tablets may have greater living integration than anything from HTC, Dell or Motorola.

Sure, Google TV is suppose to be on the TV only and Android is Android. Then again, HTC’s Sense or Moto Blur are all device specific skins that work to the strengths of individual device makers.

I look for for incumbent TV makers to leverage this advantage over the traditional device makers. What better way to distinguish their tablets from others in the field than to offer a tighter integration with their other hardware? It’s what Apple do in creating their second-to-none ecosystem.

For instance, Sony may marry its PSP with Android. So potentially, specific apps can be written for closer integration with the Bravia TVs and PS3. This is even a step further than what Toshiba, Sharp, or Samsung can do.

We’ll see in the next 12 months when what all this means and if what I predict pans out. Let’s just say, if this doesn’t happen, HTC and Samsung will take everyone else to school with their tablets.

Skins Makes Android Popular But Also Fragmentation

One of the things I try to talk about here is on how folks use Android and what changes and developments in the Android realm that impact users. Well, skins developed by various Android developers are having a positive effect on Android adoption.

These skins like Blur and Sense are aggregating pertinent updates for users and provide an UI that Google did not include with Android. And in the next update cycle or two, these skins will become more intricate. However, there could potentially be a risk for Android as a whole.

The skins allow Samsung, HTC, and Motorola to differentiate themselves from other Android developers and each other. After all, Android is just competing with the iPhone, Blackberry, and Nokia but also with each other. These companies that make Android devices (soon, tablets as well) will need to stand out. After all, Android hardware developers are also compete with each other as well.

However, the fear is that even as Android market suffers from partial fragmentation, skin developments may further create rifts in the platform. And I fear this may potentially become an issue for app developers as hardware makers modify their flavor of Android further based on the skin they created.

We'll know if this is truly going to be a problem. Right now most skins are mostly widgets to update Twitter, text, and Facebook feeds. But look for the skins to improve and become more sophisticated. Perhaps, it would be good for Google and its Android partners to come to some sort of agreement on skin development as well.

Android App Market - Users Will Pay For Quality Apps

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a post compared to other mobile users, Android users are downloading apps but not really buy them, meaning that Android users like free apps rather than paid ones.

I did not react well to it but then I took a look at the guy in the mirror and shut up. I’ve yet to buy one single app for my G1 while I’ve spent quite a bit for my iOS devices. Why?

I think the two platforms are going after different types of users and it isn’t to say that we Android folks are cheap. This is evident in that I do buy apps from the iTunes app store, just not from Marketplace. There are a couple of reasons.

Who Should Make The Android Tablet

I am writing this post from my new iPad. I am also in the market for an Android tablet. But probably like you, who I am assuming to to get a dedicated mobile fan and Android devotee, have sethe nothing on the market that is compelling. Archos has made a valiant effort but no cigar. No iPad killer.

So I got to think. Why not HTC? Why?

One. HTC made the first Android device, the G1. Since then, Google entrusted the honor of making the Google phone, Nexus One, also to HTC. Here are probably a dozen or so Android and Windows Mobile devices on the market made by HTC.

Two. They also shows that they can out together pretty neat UI.

Third. They want to too be trusted by the consumers in the West. If they were to make a tablet to challenge the iPad, they would make damn sure that it has the mojos to back it up. That means making sure that the software is constantly updated. No nonsense about using Android 1.6 while 2.1 is available. Certainly, the design will also be top notch.

Sure, Motorola can also make a decent Android tablet but just because they hit it out of the park with the Droid doesn't mean lightning will strike twice. On the other hand, HTC has proven it has what it takes.

I think we are probably two to three months away from getting our hands on viable Android tablets, I will be waiting to make sure that I see what HTC has in stored for us before picking one up.

Third T-Mobile Android Device On Sale Oct 19th - Does It "Cliq" With You?

On the whole, things can't be better for the Android platform in its young life than at any other time.  Sure, there are some rumbling of developer discontent with Google but that's nothing most Android mobile warriors need to worry about in the long run. There are seven known Android devices and a dozen or so more will be available worldwide.  In recent weeks, the attention has been focused on Motorola and its first Android device, Cliq, and T-Mobile will be the first to offer it to its subscribers.

Well, we finally know the details.  The Cliq will be available for pre-order from T-Mobile on October 19th through November 1st and available on November 2nd. Other details we know:

• $199 with a two-year agreement (ouch).
• Available in titanium or winter white.
• Available for sale national-wide or online.
• Like other Android devices from T-Mobile, data plan will be required.
• There is a sweepstake for folks who register to receive updates.
• Will run MOTOBLUR.  It supports "Updates to contacts, posts, messages, photos and more are streamed together and synced from sources including Facebook^®, Twitter™, MySpace^®, Gmail™, and work and personal e-mail. "
• 3.1" Screen
• 3.5mm Headjack!
• 5MP camera
• 2GB of SD card for external storage.
• More specs on the Cliq, please visit Motorola's Cliq page.

My first impulse was to get this as soon as I humanly can and drop my G1.  But after I've taken a breath or two, gotten some oxygen into my brain, reality set in.  $199.  I like Facebook.  I like Twitter.  And I like the idea of being able to access all my contacts and updates easily.  As nice as MOTOBLUR is, it's not for everyone.  And at $199, it isn't for me.  

I've looked through may comments from Android owners and potential buyers and while there is a lot of excitement, the price was higher than most expected.  Then there's the Boy Genius Report hands-on with the Cliq.  Like the HTC Hero, the Cliq suffered from sluggishness.  More damaging in my mind is the report about the battery life.  In BGR's words, " the Motorola CLIQ has possibly the worst battery life of any phone I’ve tested in recent memory with the current software. Maybe Motorola’s BLUR back-end isn’t optimized yet, maybe the phone software isn’t final, but this is ridiculously bad."

Bottom-line here:  If you're in the market for a smartphone, you can't go wrong with the G1, myTouch, Hero, or the Cliq.  Android is a rock-solid mobile platform supported by Internet giant, Google.  Having said that, the inner workings of these devices are more than a year old.  That was also the concerns of many commenters.  Not much has changed since the G1.  Given the price of the Cliq, one would expected better battery life and faster CPU.  Some more along the line of the jump from iPhone 3G to 3GS.  Unfortunately, that is not the case.

For currently Android owners, I preach patience.  For instance, the Acer A1 sport a 768Mhz CPU, a 45% increase over the 528Mhz CPUs used by the current Android lineup.  That's what I'd wait for.  And when Android 2.0 comes out, Android devices may require additional resources and horsepower that the current Android devices will have trouble keeping up.  For instance, Android competitors sport 8-32GB of internal storage.  

Still, like I said above, things are looking up for Android fans and I expect better devices in 2010.  Should the Cliq drop to $99 or less, I'll revisit my decision.  After all, the iPhone can be had for $99 and the Palm Pre as little as $79.  T-Mobile and Morotola needs to do more to draw in more adopters.

I'll be visiting my local T-Mobile store on November 2nd so I can play around with one.  And I suggest other Android fans do the same.

More on the Cliq pre-order, here is T-Mobile's press release and the pre-order page.

A1: Acer Shows How To Do Android Right With Faster CPU

Acer's Android phone and there's no word that we'll be getting this any time soon.  My question to the wireless providers in the US is, why the frak not?  On the surface, there doesn't seem to be much to distinguish it from all the rest of the Android devices on the market.  In fact, it is as generic as the G1 or myTouch.

Heck, it does not even sport Sense in Hero or MOTOBLUR with Motorola's Cliq.

But what it does sport is a superior CPU.  And anyone knows, boy, does the Android devices need a faster chip to run all the widgets, skins, and background processes.  As I've mentioned, I started loading up widgets on my G1.  Lovely as it is, it has slowed my G1 to a crawl at times and at worst, even restarted on its own.

With more memory and a faster chip, the Acer should be the showcase device to introduce new users to Google's mobile platform.  Candy-eye widgets are fine but when users start experiencing slowdown, word will get around.

The chip sported by the Acer phone is a 45% faster than the ones used by the current crop of Android devices.  I'll take every bit of horsepower I can get.  The A1 sports a 768Mhz CPU versus 528Mhz CPUs used by the other Android phones.

Right now, there isn't a market for it in the US.  I'm guess it's trying to get into the Chinese and other Asian markets.  My guess is that we won't see any major changes in the design architecture of future Android devices until Android 2.0 or even 3.0.

More on the A1 at Engadget.  Pre-order price is $571, not an insanely expensive upgrade.  Though no specs are available for the A1 a this time, here are the specs for the newest Android devices, Hero and Cliq, on the market to keep in mind for comparison when we finally learn more about the A1.

Note:  The latest version of Android is 1.5.  Engadget reports that A1 lists Android 2.0.  If A1 is available for pre-order now, Android 2.0 should be too far behind.

State of the Android

Here's a quick post on this matter. Many folks are looking into the Android phones that are available for purchase now and coming our way. So what are you waiting for? G1ers, you upgrading?

Well, I don't imagine a lot of folks upgrading from the G1 to MyTouch, which is basically a keyboardless G1. Then you've got the Hero coming to Sprint this fall and the current media darling, the Motorola Cliq.

Here's my recommendation for potential Android adopters. Wait for the Cliq. It's only a month or so away from shipping with T-Mobile. The same goes for the Hero as well but for Sprint. By October or so, you will have at least four Android phones to chose from.

But how about G1ers? It's a little more complicated. If you want to stay with T-Mobile, you've got MyTouch, which isn't an upgrade considering that you're going from having a keyboard to no keyboard. So, my recommendation is to sit tight until the Cliq comes out and see where it goes from there.

With the Cliq, we're looking at a nice camera upgrade, more memory, and better battery life. Best of all, Motoblur of course.

But let's slow down a for a second. I'm excited but I'm kind of torn. The inside of Hero, Cliq, and a couple of other rumored Android devices have similar chips at the G1. We're not really looking at a big jump in performance. Not in the same way when Apple upgraded the iPhone 3G to 3GS.

Here's the bottom line, if you're looking to jump into the Android realm, you're in for some treat. Basically, your choice increase by 4-folds from last year when there was only the G1. For G1ers, it's more complicated. Hero and the Cliq has skins from THC and Morotola respectively that takes the Android to another whole new level. We're not looking at a huge speed increase or battery life but as far as functionality, you will definitely see something that will make some G1 owners contemplate upgrading.

Personally, I'm waiting for the pricing on the Cliq before making that call. Word is that it maybe free to $199 with a two-year contract. I don't know if T-Mobile will love us enough to give G1ers an upgrade path.

More about the Cliq at T-Mobile. And let's not forget HTC Hero at Sprint.